Roller screen structure or the like



sept 2s, 1937.

Z. L BOZIN ROLLER SCREEN STRUCTURE oR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 19, 1954 faz/Jenifer; A L. .ajz

7352 a Zorn MQM@ Sept. 28, 1937. z. L. BozlN ROLLER SCREEN STRUCTURE OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 19, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zorn L. 50j [Y Sept; 28, 1937- z. L. BozlN 2,094,444

, ROLLER SCREEN STRUCTURE OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 19, 1954 s sheets-sheet: s

Patented Sept. 28, 1937 stares snaar FiE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to roller structures and nds particular utility in the embodiment here described as a structure for a rolling or roller screen for windows or the like.

Among other objects, the invention aims to provide an improved rolling screen structure which can be economically produced in a few standard sizes at relatively low cost and which at the same time may be readily applied, by selfadjusting features disclosed by the invention, to slightly varying sizes of window frames or other openings. My improved screen can be readily installed without the aid of an expert mechanic since exact measurements need not be prede- 15.termined and since the parts are easily andv quickly assembled, at the same time providing a permanent installation where desired. For this purpose, the entire equipment may be sold as a unit, lending itself to packing in a relatively 2O-.small space. The equipment is particularly adaptable to ordinary wood sash which is commonly found already in use in most homes and oiices. It is just as readily adaptable, however, for a permanent initial installation in metallic zywindow frames, for example, such as are usedV in railway vehicles.

My improved screen may be installed either inside or outside of the glass pane of the window, but I have here, for purposes of exemplication,

shown it installed upon the inside of the glass pane. When thus installed, the screen may be raised partially, for purposes of opening `the window, or may be entirely raised as in the Winter time, and in all instances the screen is free from interference with curtains or other hangings and the window is readily .accessible for cleaning.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the inside of the window with my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section of a portion of the structure of Fig. l, taken on the line 2 2;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and being also a section on the line. 3 3 of Fig. l, enlarged;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. l, still further enlarged;

Figure 5 is a partial front elevation of the structure of Fig. 1, being one side of the Ystructure with the screen web removed;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of the other side of the structure but with the screen web in place;

Figure '7 is a sectional View taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 5;

Figure 8 is a partial side elevational View taken 5 on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6;

Figure 9 is an end view of the spring roller, other parts associated therewith being shown in section;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal axial View of the 10 roller taken on the line v|El l Q of Fig. 9;

Figure 1l is a partial sectional view taken on the line Il ll of Fig. 9 showing the details of the crank arm; and I Figure 12 is a view showing further details of 15 the structure of Fig. 1l, being a section on the line l2 l2 thereof, with parts in alternative position.

Referring vin detail to the illustrative construction shown in the drawings, I have shown 20 a conventional window frame i!) which is here suggested to be of wood and comprises the usual Vertical side frame members II and l2, upper frame member I3, and sill M. These frame members are bordered inwardly by the usual 25 vertical stiles or moldings 5,195 and the upper molding Il against which moldings the lower sash i8 of the window may slidingly abut, the upper sash I9 being offset outwardly of the lower sash, all of which is ordinary window con- 30 struction.

Secured to the molding l5 as by screws 20 I have shown an end portion 2l of the housing indicated generally by the numeral 22, the end portion 2| being disk-like and the housing gen- 35 erally being o-f a hollow somewhat semi-cylindrical conformation extending transversely across the window frame between the. moldings l5, IB. The housing end 2l has a semi-circular portion 23 extending axially thereof about one side of 40 its perimeter and facing, in this instance, toward the window panes I3, i9 and this semi-circular portion 23 telescopes with a similar semi-circular portion 24 of the housing 22, these parts being rotatively located together by turned-over 45 edges 25, 26 on the housing portion 24 between which, as in a groove, are received the free edges of the portion 23 permitting sliding adjustment of the portions 23, 2d to accommodatevarious widths of the windows. At the opposite side of 50 the window the housing portion 2li is continued, in this instance integrally, to form an end portion 2l secured to the molding l@ generally similar to the separable end portion 2 l.. Each of the housing end portions 2| and 2l is continued 55 yfor a purpose presently .pointed out.

their lower ends,. the channeled continuations of the end portion 2|, thus placing'the channels 28- in communication with the interior of the housing. As shown in Fig. 2, the curve axially .extending parts 23 and 3| are spaced apart as at 32 and 33 to permit the part 24 of the housing to slide therein for purposes of extensibility or contractability of the housing as already pointed out. f

At the lower end of the .channeled portions 28, Y the side wallsy 29,739 of the channels converge leaving a restricted vertical slot 34. therebetween, Also, at

28 of the housing end portionsfare telescoped iwithinsimilarly channeled guideways 35 extending fromthe channel portions 2B down-to the window sill |4. vThe guides 35 each have a vertically .extending base 36 and side walls 31, 38

spaced apart to .provide the guideway 39 which. communicates with the channels 28r and through them with the housing 22.V 'Ihe guide walls 3l,

BOI

`38 also desirably converge `leaving* ay restricted vertical slot 49 therebetweenv lproviding a continuationof the slot 34. The guides 35 may be y secured to the. moldings l5,r I6 as by screws '4| passing throughv holes 4|a in the ianged portionsy 42 of the guides. By this telescoping action of the guides and ther depending channel portions 28 of the housing,.adjustment .may be As best itself.

In order to quickly determine the correct rotative position of the housing end portions 43, to cause the depending channels 28 to be alined with the guides 35, these channels may have a lateral projection 44 the outer end of which may be readily alined with the edge 45 of the molding l5 or I6 as the case may be.

The housing end portions 2| and 2'| provide bearings to support shafts or pins 46 and 4l of a spring roller 48, next described, and which extends within the housing 22 transversely of the window-frame. Spring roller 46 includes a cylindrical rod 49 in this instance of wood, which at its right-hand end has the support pin 4l'. secured concentrically therein, a collar 59 limiting insertion of the pin 41 and leaving an outwardly projecting journal part 5| which is received to turn freely in a conventional bearing (not shown) carried centrally by and within the housing end portion 21. At its other end, the rod 49 is axially and centrally recessed for a considerable portion of its length as at 52. The recess 52 is desirably lined by a metal tube 53 which is secured from rotation with respect to the rod by a nail 54. The nail 54 also secures against rotation with respect to the rod a plug 55 received within the tube 53 at the inner end of the recess 52. Thefplug 55 at its outwardly directed end has a diametrically reduced annular extension 56, the hollow interior of which is lined by a metallic thimble 5l. A spindle 58 also conveniently of wood is received in the recess 52 and has an inner reduced end 59 which is rotatively received in the thimble 5l. The spindle 58 has a metallic sleeve v 60 at its outer end and extending for a portion `of the rod 49'.

of the vlength of the spindle rotatively securedy to the spindle as by a nail 6|. Anchored at one 'end as at 62 to the sleeve 69 and at its other end as at v63 to the plug 55 is a helical torsion spring 64 within the coils oi which thespindle- 58 enters, the spring thus surrounding the spindle and the vannulary rextension 56 of the plug .55, these yparts thus maintaining the spring in position. It will be noted that the supporting pin 49 is carried by the spring roller y43 through ythe intermediation of the spindle 58, and the supporting pin 4E terminates outwardly in a flattened key or feather portion 55 (Fig. 11) which is received in a narrow slot 56 in a bracket 6l secured centrally. of and within the housing end portion 2|. Thus the supporting pin 46 and bracket 6l. arefkeyed together against rotation, it being` understood that the' slot 56 is-open at one end so thatthe feather 65 maybe slid there- .into in one rotative position after the journal may be readily wound up, before the feather lB5y .is received in its bearing S7, thereafter the crank rarm functioning as later pointed out.

vThe spindle'58 vis supported at its outer end by an inwardly turned annular flange 99 formed integrally with a'cap 'Hl'telescoped` over .the end f Asimilarcap 'il is slipped over the other end of the rod 49, these caps having grooves in rod 49 so that the caps may be rotated with respect to the rod but are held from disengagement therewith. Each of the caps 10 and also has an integral outwardly extending annular ilange 13, formed in this instance by bending the material of the caps upon themselves. 'I'hus the rod 49, together with the flanges '13, provide in the nature of a reel upon which is reeled in this instance a flexible web of copper screening '14. To secure one end of the screen web to the rod 49 of the roller 38, I' desirably provide'a longitudinally extending groove |5 in the periphery in the roller 49 in which the free end of the web may be entered. A narrow elongated keeper 16 is then inserted over the end of the web as best shown in Fig. 2. The web and keeper are inserted in the groo-ve 'l5 when the caps 'l0 and 'll are turned so that the slots 'Il therein register with the groove l5. When the web and keeper are inserted in the groove 'l5 the caps 'l1 are then turned, for example as shown in Fig. 5, to place the slot 'il in the groove 7.5 out of register thus locking the end of the screen web with its keeper 16 in the groove and to the rod 49.

The free end of the screen web i4 has secured thereto and extending transversely of the web and window frame a bar '58, here shown as comprising two narrow elongated plates 79, 89 which clamp between them as by screws 8|, the free end of the web 82, as best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. It will now be understood that the screen web 74 secured to the spring roller 48 may be inserted as a unit in thehousing 22, having the bearings therein as already described, and the free end of the web margined by the bar 'i8 then led through the channels 28 and the guide-ways 39 so as to be drawn downwardly of the window frame. To permit ready insertion of the roller and screen, I desirably cut away the walls 30 of the channels 28 as at 82a, as best shown in Figs. 2, and 6.

As Will be readily understood, when the roller with the screen thereon is so mounted and the web led downwardly to unreel it off the roller, to cover the window, the spring 64 will be wound up to create the tendency to automatically re-reel the screen upon the roller by the unwinding torsional action of the spring. To selectively resist this re-reeling action and to maintain the screen web covering the entirewindow or covering it partially as may be desired, I provide vertically spaced-apart shoulders such as the rack teeth 83 conveniently formed integrally with the inner face of the wall 31 of the guideways 35, these teeth thus providing racks extending vertically of the window frame at each side thereof. To engage with these racks I provide a shoulder 84 at each end of the plate 19 forming one part of the transverse bar 18. The shoulder 84 is at facing upwardly so that it will vertically abut any one of the teeth 83 as may be desired to prevent re-reeling of the screen on the spring roller. To yieldingly maintain the shoulders 83, 88 in engagement, I provide a coil spring 85 having a pair of extended legs 8'6, 81 one of which, the leg 85, bearing against the plate 80 and the other 81 against a detent 88 pivoted as at 89 within an enlargement 90 of the bar member 88, as best shown in Fig. 4, the detent in turn pressing against the wall 38 of the guideway. When it is desired to cause the screen to be re-reeled and to move the web upwardly, the bar 18 is moved toward the guide wall 38 and away from the guide wall 31 against the force of the spring 85. Facing downwardly, I provide that the shoulder 84 is inclined as at 9| providing a cam surface so that when the screen is drawn downwardly the bar 18 is cammed automatically away from the shoulders or teeth 83, as it passes each tooth, thus facilitating downward movement of the web and eliminating the necessity for the user to consciously move the bar 18 away from the wall 31. The corner 92 ofthe detent 88 is desirably rounded to minimize friction between it and the wall 38. Also the detent has a tail 93 which is pressed by the spring S5 against the wall 94 of the bar extension 98 when the bar is removed from the guideways 39, thus limiting rotation of the detent 88 on its pivot 89.

Throughout its intermediate portion between the guideways 35, the bar 1B clamps between its plate members 19, 88 a pad or buffer 95 desirably of felt or the like which abuts the window sill I4 when the screen is drawn down thereto. At its ends, however, the pad 95 may be omitted and the plate 19 offset as at 98 (Fig. 3) toward the plate 80 where the bar enters the slot 40 in the guideways.

For convenience in lowering and raising the v screen 14 as described, the bar 18 may be provided with the usual handle 91.

Inasmuch as in accordance with my invention, unwinding of the screen 64 and consequent rereeling of the screen is resisted by engagement of the bar 18 with the guideway racks, as described, it is desirable, when the spring roller and screen thereon are removed from its bearings in the housing 22, that means be provided on the roller itself to prevent unwinding of the spring. Such means I have shown in association with the crank arm 88 which as already explained may be used for winding the spring. As best shown in Figs. 11 and 12 the crank arm 68 carries a small plunger 98 movable inwardly and outwardly of the crank by means of a stem 99 having a small handle |00 at its outer end, the stem sliding in a bearing |0| onthe crank. When it is desired to remove the roller and screen from the housing, the plunger 98 is pushed inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 11 to the position shown in Fig. 12, whereupon, upon a tendency of the spring 64 to unwind, thereby rotating the'crank 88, the crank, upon partial rotation will, by means of the plunger 98, engage the stop |02 formed as a projection upon the face of the cap of the rod 49, the stop |82 being then in the path of the plunger 98 and the surface |03 of the stop abutting the plunger. It will be understood, as best shown in Fig.V 9, that the tendency of the spring B4 to unwind rotates the rod 49 relatively to the crank 68 in the direction of the arrow |04. When the spring roller is in its housing 22 the crank arm 68 passes through a slot |05 in the axially extending wall 3| of the end housing member 2|, and engagement of the crank with the wall 3| as at |06 locates the position of the crank so that it is always accessible to the user on the proximate side of the roller. Should the plunger 98 be in the path of the stop |02 when the roller and Vscreen are in the housing for operation and it is desired to pull the screen downwardly, thereby winding the spring 64, provision is made for automatically retracting the plunger 98 out of the path of the stop |02. As here shown, face |01 of the stop |02 is beveled so that upon rotation of the stop in a direction opposite to the arrow |04, the face |01 of the stop will cam the plunger 98 out of its path, whereupon the screen may be drawn downwardly and thereupon the engagement of the bar 18 with the rack of the guideways prevent-s unwinding of the spring 64 until it is desired to again remove the screen and roller from the housing, whereupon the plunger 98 is pushed inward manually to again prevent this unwinding.

As best shown in Fig. 8 the base 36 of the guideways 35 is out away as at |08 to facilitate telescoping of the channels 28 therewith.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the screen 14 together with the housing 22 provides a complete through foraminated closure for the window-frame, the housing 22 contacting the upper molding |1 of the window-frame and the screen exing itself about the interior of the housing and slidably contacting the turned-over edge 26 thereof as the screen moves up and down, thus completely closing any openings for insects or the like.

Claims to the housing structure for the roller screen here disclosed are made in my co-pending divisional application Serial Number 162,095, i'lled Sept. 2, 193'?.

Obviously the invention is not limited to details of construction shown for purposes of exemplication. Furthermore, it is not essential that all features of the invention be used conjointly, as various combinations and sub-combinations may be advantageously employed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination including a spring roller comprising a reel member having, an axial recess therein, a torsion helical spring in said recess, a spindle in said recess telescoped within the spring, one end of the spring being anchored to the reel and the other end to the spindle, a crank arm keyed to the spindle outsidethe roller, and means associated with theroller and crank arm permitting relative rotation of the roller with respect to the spindlein one direction to wind the spring but restraining rot-ation in the opposite direction to unwind the spring.

2. The vstructure of claim 1 whereinthe reel includes a cylindrical rod grooved longitudinally and a flanged cap -telescoping upon the rod at each end thereof, at least one of said caps being rotatable with respect to the rod and having a slot therein of substantially the same width as the groove adapted to register with the groove in one rotative position of the cap with respect to the rod and. to be placed out of register with the groove in another position to at least partially close the groove.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination including a spring roller comprising a reel member, an axial recess therein, a torsion helical springv in said recess, a spindle in said recess telescoped within the spring, one end of the spring being anchored to the reel and the other end to the spindle, a crank arm keyed to the spindle outside the roller, mechanism -associated with the roller and crank arm permitting relative rotation of the roller with respect to the spindle in one direction to wind the spring but restraining vrotation in the opposite direction to unwind. the

spring, said mechanism being manually adjustable to permit rotation of the roller with respect to the spindle in both directions, and means carriedy by one of the members for automatically placing said mechanism in said last-mentioned adjusted position.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein the crank arm lcarries a movable plunger reciprocable longitudinally of the crank arm and wherein the reel carries a stop fixed thereon for direct abutment with the plunger in one longitudinal position of the plunger with respect to the crank arm upon relative rotation of the spindle and reel in one direction.

5. The structure of cl-aim 1 wherein the crank arm carries a movable plunger reciprocable longitudinally of the crank arm and wherein the reel carries a stop iixed thereon for direct abutment with the plunger in one longitudinal position of the plunger with respect to the crank arm in relative rotation of the spindle and reel in one direction, and wherein the stop has a cam face engageable with the plunger in relative rotation of the spindle and reel in the opposite direction, said cam face engaging the plunger to move it out of the path of the stop.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein means are provided associated with the crank arm for preventing engagement with said means associated with the roller when the roller is in position within the housing.

ZORN L. BOZIN. 

